Folding metal deck chair



June 10, 1952 R. A. ONEILL FOLDING METAL DECK CHAIR 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1Filed Aug. 12, 1950 INVENT OR ATTORNEY June 10, 1952 R. A. ONEILLFOLDING METAL DECK CHAIR 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 Filed Aug. 12, 1950 ATTORNEYPatented June 10, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING METAL DECKCHAIR Ralph A. ONeill, Englewood, N. J.

Application August 12, 1950, Serial No. 179,081

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a folding chair, useful as a deck chair forsteamers, or similar usage.

The invention has for its objects and comprehends a foldable chair thatis simple in design and soundly constructed, with the attributes ofability to withstand rough usage and yet be light in weight andcomfortable to sit in; a foldable deck chair in which the load of theoccupant is distributed so that each member of the structure and framesare at work, with the result that there is a general distribution ofstresses such that the chair is substantially unbreakable in use; afolding deck chair in which the back frame is self-supporting withoutreliance upon the arms or arm pivots, and the front legs areself-supporting without reliance upon the arms or arm pivots; a deckchair which has a quadrangle pivoting arrangement, without reliance uponpin-pivots for basically supporting the load to be carried thereon; adeck chair with a novel hinge bracket and stop construction for joiningthe back rest and seat in foldable relation.

Further objects of the invention include a folding chair that has sideframes extending rearwardly to form rear legs, and a back frame the sideposts of which are swingably mounted and lie in the planes of the sideframes without being laterally offset therefrom; a folding chair havingan aluminum alloy tubular frame defining a seat portion and rear legs,an aluminum alloy tubular frame defining a back portion, plastic webbingstretched over the seat portion and back portion, and means connectingthe frames in hinged relationship whereby the frames do not pass throughthe tranverse planes of the webbing during movement between folded andopen position.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a foldingsteamer deck chair having a supporting frame structure of metal, andpreferably an aluminum alloy, in which the construction is practical,rugged and non-corrosive, and does not utilize excessive number ofmembers, which latter result in great weight and high cost; a chairwhich permits complete, snug closing, and when in open position has aback frame provided with an automatic stop and unbreakable support; achair which utilizes stops to arrest motion and to support chair loads;a chair which sustains loads in its main beam members with rest; afolding steamer deck chair with the foot rest permanently securedthereto in folding rotatable relation.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description andclaims herein.

In the prior art, folding deck chairs are known, but they have variousdisadvantages, and their engineering features generally are notpracticable for chairs of metal construction, and particularly wheresteamer deck chairs are concerned. Steamer deck chairs must be light,rugged, non-corrosive, comfortable, foldable to occupy a smal space, andhave a minimum of parts so that the costs are not prohibitive. Woodenframe deck chairs become warped and broken, deteriorate and rot at themetal pivots, and are not weldable. The present invention meets all thedesired hereinabove named requirements and tests of a metal steamer deckchair, and additionally introduces engineering features of greatadvantage and novelty in this art in which the chair occupant load isdistributed, so that each member of the structure and frames are atwork; i. e. the back frame is self-supporting (without arms or armpivots), and the front legs are self-supporting (without arms or armpivots), the result being a general distribution of stresses such thatthe chair is unbreakable due to use.

The present invention will be understood more readily by referring tothe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the chair in position of use to seatan occupant.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the chair shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view showing the chair of Figures 1 and 2 in folded ornon-use position.

Figure 4 is a view of vertical cross-section of the hinge bracket andstop support in assembly of back frame with the seat frame.

Figure 5 is a front view of Figure 4 partly in cross-section.

Figure 6 is a side view, partly in cross-section, of the constructionshowing the attachment of the foot rest to the seat frame.

Figure 7 is a front view, partly in cross-section, of the constructionshown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a side view, partly in cross-section, showing the attachmentof the rubber feet to the chair legs.

Figure 9 is a detail view in cross-section showing the attachment of theplastic webbing to the frame.

Referring to the drawings, the chair has rails I9 of the side membersI2. fixedly secured to the side rail members i by 3 or side members Iformed of hollow rectangular metal tubes which curve downwardly at 2 toform rear legs 3. Cross bars 4 and 5 are assembled with the two railmembers I to form a seat frame having plastic webbing 6 attached theretoto form a seat. Tubular metallic members I pivotally attached to theside rails I at 8 form supporting legs of the chair, the upper portionsI thereof being provided with inserted drilled arm hinge strengtheningplugs for bolting at 9 to the arm hinge bracket I9 carried by each ofthe arms II. The back frame is composed of side members I2 formed ofhollow rectangular metal tubes integrally welded to a top member I3 andto crossbars I4 and I5, the cross-bars and side members having attachedthereto plastic webbin Itto form a back rest for the chair. As shown indetail in Figures 4 and 5, the lower ends of the back frame side membersI2 are pivotally mounted or hinged at 2| on the brackets IT which areeach provided with a cross-bolt I8 which serves asa stop and support forthe notched lower ends The brackets I! are bolts 20. The lower notchedends I9 of the side members I2 have solid aluminum plugs 47 insertedtherein for strengthening purposes to support the highly stressed hingeand stop. The arm rests II'are pivotally connected to the respectiveside members I2 at E3. ihe cross-bar 26 carried transversely by the legs7 has a rubber stop 25 thereon. As shown in detail in Figures 6 and 7,each side rail member I is provided at its forward end with a foot-resthinge casting 25 which is forked to provide portions 21 and'28 tostraddle the forward cross-bar 4 of the seat frame,

the forked portions lying within the tubular side frame I. Each casting26, one on the right and other on the left, is provided with a hole torotatably receive the stud end 29 of the stud casting 30 secured to thecross-bar SI of the footrest frar'ne,'

whereby the foot rest frame is pivotally mounted on the seat.

3I at the rear which carries the stud castings 39.

The "legs 34 of the foot-rest frame-are bent at 35 to provide for snugclosing of the chair, and are 4 and Id. The side bars 32 of thefoot-rest frame are slightly curved in a downward direction over a wideradius, as shown in the drawings.

As shown in Figure 2, the arms II are preferably disposed parallel tothe side rails I where they extend thereover.

It will be observed that the back frame side members I2 are in the samevertical planes as the respective side rails I upon which they areswingably mounted, and side member I2 are not offset laterally from therespective side rails I. This is an important feature of the invention,as it permits the back frame and seat frame to function in the manner ofa flat folding hinge without interference with the webbed material whichcover these frames. When the chair is folded, as

"shown in Figure 3, it is a compact unit occupying a minimum of space.

' atively light in weight. The arms of the chair may be of metal or ofwood, and it will be noted that the arms do not support the basicloadcarried by the chair. l The chair frame disclosed herein and themethod of making and assembling it are the subject of a separatecopendingapplication filed 'on ev'en date herewith, wherein I haveclaimed'the framework and method of assembling it; themethod ofassembling the foot-rest frame to the seat frame; the hinge bearingcasting shown in Figure 6; a joint formed with each casting as disclosedin Figure 6, the method of attachin plastic webbing to the-frame, andthe jointproduced'thereby disclosed in Figure 9; the method of joiningthe rubber foot to' the legs as shown in Figure 8.

' Assembling Same. It bears Serial No.'179,082.

formed of tubular metal members welded in H- I shape, one of the members35 serving as a horizontal cross-bar. The legs 35 are plugged at thetop'ends thereon and have pivots 3T therethrough for pivotally mountingon the foot rest) As shown in Figure 8, each tubular leg of the chair;

viz, the rear legs, the front legs, andthe footrest legs, is pluggedwith a metal strip 33 at the lower end thereof and which secures andsupports rubber foot members shown at 40, through which the bolt 39extends' The man'herdf attachment of the plastic webbing to back, seatand foot-rest frames is shown in Figure 9. The'met'al tube II which isillustrative of the various'tubular frame and cross-bar members, isprovided withahole 42 extruded in one wall thereof; The plastic webtheslats replace the I have also described and claimed insaid copendingapplication the method of providing the back frame, seat frame andfoot-rest frame with longitudinally disposed aluminum alloy tuing suchslats. I consider such an arrangement to be within the scope of myinvention, wherein plastic webbing5- Iclaim:'

1. A folding chair capable of carrying a load with general distributionof stresses-comprising side-frame members defining a' seat attachingportion and rearwardlyextendinglegs,'a' back frame pivotally mounted on'the side frame members, other leg members pivotally mounted" on the sideframe members, arm 'members pivotally mounted on the back frame-me'mbers and the 6( by the side frame members including means for saidother leg members,bracket-means carried supporting'a'load on the backframe memberindependentlyof the arm members. means carried secures theplastic webbing to the tube-4i of the framework Polyethylene plastic ispreferred.

As shown in Figure 2, the cross-bars'li l and I5 are curved, thecross-bar [5 having ade'eper by said bracket means for pivotallymounting-the backframe, and means carried by'the' said other "'legmembers for 'supporting'a load on suchil'eg members independently of thearm members, the said load supporting means permitting folding' movementof the back frame without being rem'ovedfrom the bracket means 2. Afolding deck-chair having a pair of side frames defining a forward seatsustainingport-ion and rearwardly extending leg por'-tions," other '7legmembers pivo'tallymounted on "said side ed on said side frames, saidback frame member including a pair of side posts spaced apart thedistance said side frames are spaced apart, a seat carried by the sideframes, a back carried by said back frame, means carried by the sideframes adapted to contact the lower ends of the side posts for stoppingthe movement of the side posts when in load supporting position andmeans carried by the said other legs stopping movement of such legs whenin load supporting position, the said means carried by the side framesadapted to stop the movement of the side posts being fixedly secured andpermitting folding movement of the back frame without being removed fromthe assembly.

3. A folding chair having a pair of tubular metal side frames extendingrearwardly continuously to form rear supporting legs, plastic webbingunited to the forward portion of the side frames forming a seat thereon,a tubular metal back frame having a pair of posts defining the sidesthereof, plastic webbing united to the posts forming a back restthereon, bracket means carried by the side frames including means forpivotally mounting the posts of the back frame thereon, other leg meanspivotally mounted on the side frames, arm rests pivotally mounted on thesaid other leg means and the posts of the back frame, the posts of theback frame being in the same vertical planes as the respectivecorresponding side frames upon which they are mounted without lateraloffset, means located on the bracket means adjacent the pivotallymounting means for stopping the pivotal movement of the side posts andsupporting the back frame in load carrying position independently of thearm rests, and means carried by the said other leg means to support theseat in load-carrying position independently of the arm rests.

4. A folding steamer deck chair having in combination, a metal backframe, said back frame having two metal posts constituting the verticalsides thereof, each of said posts being provided at its lower end with anotch, a metal strengthening plug incased in each post at its lower endand conforming to the configuration of the notch, a metal seat framehaving hinge brackets thereon, each bracket defining with said seatframe a pair of parallel disposed members in which the lower ends ofsaid metal posts are received therebetween, a pivot bolt passing throughsaid parallel disposed members, said plug and said lower end of saidpost, and a cross-bolt passing through said parallel sides in engageablestop relation with said notch.

5. A folding steamer deck chair including a seat having two side railsof tubular metal and a forward cross-bar transversely passing throughthe same, a foot-rest having a rear cross-bar with studs extendinghorizontally outward therefrom, stud receiving members each having apair of bifurcated ends secured to the ends of said side rails and saidbifurcated ends straddling said first-named cross-bar in interfittingrelation, said studs extending into said stud-receiving members forpivotally connecting the foot rest to the seat in foldable relation, aback rest swingably mounted on said side rails, leg members pivot allymounted on said side rails, and arm rests pivotally joined with saidback rest and said leg members.

6. A folding chair having a pair of metal side frames extendingrearwardly continuously to form rear supporting legs, means carried bythe forward portion of the side frames to form a seat thereon, a metalback frame having a pair of posts defining the sides thereof, meanscarried by the posts to form a back rest thereon, bracket means carriedby the side frames including means for pivotally mounting the posts ofthe back frame thereon, other leg means pivotally mounted on the sideframes, arm rests pivotally mounted on the said other leg means and theposts of the back frame, the posts of the back frame being in the samevertical planes as the respective corresponding side frames upon whichthey are mounted without lateral offset, means located on the bracketmeans adjacent the pivotally mounting means for stopping the pivotalmovement of the side posts and supporting the back frame in loadcarrying position independently of the arm rests, and means carried bythe said other leg means to support the seat in load-carrying positionindependently of the arm rests.

7. A foldable chair capable of carrying a load with general distributionof stresses comprising side frame members defining a seat attachingportion and rearwardly extending legs, a back frame pivotally mounted onthe side frame members, said back frame including a pair of side postsin the same vertical planes of the side frames without lateral offsettherefrom, other leg members pivotally mounted on the side framemembers, arm members pivotally connected to the back frame member,bracket means carried by each of the side frame members, means on eachof said bracket means immovably secured thereto for supporting a load onthe back frame member, each side post at its lower end having a recesstherein engageable with the load supporting means on the bracket means,means carried by each of said bracket means for pivotally mounting theback frame, the said load supporting means permitting folding movementof the back frame without being removed from the bracket means.

RALPH A. ONEILL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 655,598 Borchert Aug. 7, 1900668,489 Collignon Feb. 19, 1901 1,701,684 Lee Feb. 12, 1929 1,715,118Clark May 28, 1929 2,040,942 Katenkamp May 19, 1936 2,047,178 DeConinckJuly 14, 1936 2,189,520 Inzerillo Feb. 6, 1940 2,198,157 Fisher Apr. 23,1940 2,230,685 Haschke Feb. 4, 1941 2,234,677 Larsen Mar. 11, 19412,444,873 Goldberg July 6, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date19,490 Australia Sept. 27, 1934 456,271 Great Britain Nov. 5, 193666,396 Norway May 23, 1941 209,957 Switzerland Aug. 16, 1940

